SlinkeServ can't find the slink-e

This has now happened to me twice. I have everything on my system set us nicely and working smoothely and I wake up one day and the computer can't find the Slink-e. I didn't change anything--I didn't even restart the computer!

I think it has something to do with the distance from my computer. I want to be able to use the IR input in my bedroom, but my computer is in the living room about 40-50 feet away. I have connected several DB9 extenstions together to make the Slink-e reach. Does this reduce the signal strength?

When I plug the Slink-e in closer to the computer it works, and then when I plug it back in in its original location it works again. So my other hypothesis is that the last extension cord is bad.

My question is this: should this be a problem? Is 40-50 feet too far? Is there a signal enhancer or a special cable I could buy? Or is it more likely that my cable is bad?